SofCourse
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posted on December 9, 2000 02:59:35 PM
IMHO sellers are missing a LOT of bids by not stating their shipping charge (insurance extra)right in their ad. I sure don't have the time for emails back and forth to the seller trying to find out the shipping price...which is usually the basic $3.20.... unless I don't ask first...then it always seems to jump to $4.50 after the auction. Am I the only one encountering this problem?
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dman3
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posted on December 9, 2000 03:36:52 PM
Many dont put shipping in there auction listing no more because like me They have discovered you cant give more then an estimate of shipping untill the Item is packaged and ready to ship and you need a good scale to get a real rate from an online source I do add shipping to my listings I been many times loseing up to $20 a month under estimateing shipping fees and buyers still write me and insist I could ship for less.
I Bought my self a postal Scale last month and I have started adding a Fixed shipping rate for all my auctions that includes with out exseption Postage Insurance and delivery comfimation and custom packageing.
Insurance will not be a choice no more but a must to protect both me and the buyer and also delivery comfirmation which is now a requirment for all who pay with credit card this to pervent problems and prove shipping.
The fixed rate is about 9 to 10% above postage Insurance and comfirmation and I no longer haggle shipping all pay one rate as of the frist of the year I plan on go to stamp.com or one of the other companys to be able to print my own postage.
Have buyer complained about this No not yet but it wouldnt matter we all must play by the rules No one will be hurt by shipping damage and No one will be hurt by fraudualent credit card charge backs from buyers claiming seller never shipped as the proof will be there.
Not all buyer are complaining or frauding but once again The few Leading to incressed cost for all.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
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dman3
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posted on December 9, 2000 03:45:07 PM
Oh I forgot to mention I use to take the picture of Items for my listing and then package the Items take them to a friend with a good scale to get shipping weight and rates on each for my listings
BUT over time you end up with dead beats if you could see my supply of per packaged Items that I have here from the last year buyers dead beat on you would know no average person has room for these prepackaged left overs in there homes some day they will get listed again but as of this point old inventory has taken a back seat.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
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bmma
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posted on December 9, 2000 05:06:54 PM
I have to agree with you, SofCourse.
I used to take the time to email sellers before bidding, but don't bother now unless it's a "must have, one of a kind" item. I don't even mind a handling charge; I'm just not going to risk bidding if the seller can't let me know upfront what I will be paying. I have to take the s-h into consideration when deciding how much I'm willin to bid.
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december3
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posted on December 9, 2000 05:19:29 PM
With heavier items you have to know where they are going to figure the shipping charge. I have had to e mail my address before the seller could tell me the shipping charges many times. I don't have a problem with this, it only takes a few seconds to send an e mail.
[ edited by december3 on Dec 9, 2000 05:20 PM ]
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Freddy57
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posted on December 9, 2000 05:19:52 PM
I sell like items so I know what it will cost to ship them. I simply list my shipping charge, which includes insurance, packaging and delivery confirmation. These are standard these days anyway. No one has ever complained about that and the bidder knows up front what the charges are.
Online auctions should be fun, knowing all the costs up front makes the game more exciting for everone.
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lmsh
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posted on December 9, 2000 05:25:19 PM
I agree....Unless it states the shipping price, I won't bid....Once in a blue moon if I really want the item, I do ask first. I always really hate when someone has a fixed price on all their auctions. Mainly CD's...people are charging $3.50-to-$5.00 to ship one CD. I just got four in the mail, and the shipping was only $1.54......But because of their fixed pricing, they say they make up for it with their CD's where they lose out on others heavier items...Well, all I got to say, is you lose my bid! 
[ edited by lmsh on Dec 9, 2000 05:26 PM ]
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dman3
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posted on December 9, 2000 05:30:42 PM
There you go SofCourse four different post from four different users all different at least you are no more or less confused on the matter then you were when you frist asked your question
Every seller and buyer has a good reason for what they do none are Wrong every user must do what works for what they sell.
As well if sellers offer shipping Internationally no shipping rates garentees they get email asking cost to ship before they send payments.
Cant tell you how many International buyers will bid send you a reply for your EOA letting you know they live on mars after you give then shipping rate for Earth USA.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
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toolhound
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posted on December 9, 2000 05:35:57 PM
I put the shipping charge in all my auctions for items under 5 pounds. If it is over 5 pounds I put in the description Buyer pays shipping and insurance on aprox. xx pounds from zip 34653 by USPS.
I put in the aprox. weight so that after I package it I can adjust the weight. I package enough that I am usually right but large items it is harder to estimate the packaged weight.
This way the bidder can go to USPS site and figure the cost.
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SofCourse
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posted on December 10, 2000 07:02:29 AM
Thanks for all the different responses.
While they are all correct and have their merits I just wanted to call attention to the fact that there are a LOT of sellers complaining that the bidding is slow and sales are off. Well, gee, no buyer is going to take the time to write a seller and tell him that they are not bidding because the seller's shipping fee is not stated in the ad......instead, the buyer just moves on and the sellers are left to grumble.
In the interest of a positive action might you not TRY putting the shipping weight and/or fee in the ad stating "Basic USPS Priority is $xxx. " See if it makes a difference to your sales.
Maybe I'm only one of a few who are turned off by "after sales" inflated shipping charges.
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getkicksonrte66
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posted on December 10, 2000 10:20:25 AM
Even more amazing to me is Sellers who state in their TOS that Winner pays "X Amount fixed Rate" to cover the fees for Priority Shipping and Insurance.
Then when my package arrives--I see NO INSURED red stamp that indicates package was insured via USPS---this has happened 3 times to me--and after inquiring the sellers as to why they did not insure----in each incident the Sellers all had the same response--they all stated "I SELF INSURE" !!!! That in my opinion and completely unacceptable------If this is the way they operate then I feel this information should be divulged in their TOS.
Any seller capable of misleading the buyers on the above scenario---makes me wonder what other information are they leaving out.
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on December 10, 2000 10:26:00 AM
getkicks-
How many of the sellers you have bought from who claimed to self-insure refused to make good on one of your insurance claims?
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flynn
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posted on December 10, 2000 10:42:46 AM
Well here we go again. Maybe this little bit
of fact will help clear things up, maybe not, but what the heck
If I have an item that weighs 10 pounds it could cost anywhere from $7.00 to $15.25 to mail it, depending on if you live in my local zone ($7.00) zone 4 ($8.50) zone 5 ($9.50) zone 6 ($11.25) zone 7 ($12.50) zone 8 ($15.25).
This is just the basic shipping charge, that doesn't include insurance!
Now, for all you bidders that are complaining about no shipping charges posted in the description which rate should I quote?
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getkicksonrte66
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posted on December 10, 2000 10:45:38 AM
None Mrpotatohead----------HOWEVER--I see no point to your question--------I still believe now, and always will that any seller who does not make clear in their TOS their knowing intentions of SELF INSURING my package is clearly and without a doubt misleading me the buyer---This is the point I am trying to make, and I have no intentions of getting into a piss match about it-----my above opinion is clear, it's mine--I own it and it will NEVER matter to me that should item be damaged enroute and said Seller makes good on claim make it right for Seller to mislead me the buyer into thinking my monies paid for insurance went to anyone but the carrier of the parcel!
Enuf said--again--this is my opinion--others may differ from my opinion---thats great---I just prefer not to cater to deceptive practices.
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ultraman187
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posted on December 10, 2000 10:54:01 AM
Most seller do not mention the option of postal insurance till the auction closes. Because they want the shipping to sound cheaper. 75% of the seller who charged priority mail that I dealed with always either send book rate or first class and pocket the diffrence. I recently bought three items from three sellers at ebay and I paid for postal insurance. 2 of the sellers pocket the postal insurance money and one of them didn't. I wonder what happens when the item is lost? Probably tell me I didn't buy insurance? anyway, there is a terrible video tape seller who is gone now who charged me $14 dollars for shipping and insurance on 23 video tapes, but did $2.51 uninsured book rate. Sellers like that should be kicked out. In fact, the last time that I bought from this seller, they ran off with my $17 worth of video tapes that he never shipped.
[ edited by ultraman187 on Dec 10, 2000 11:24 AM ]
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mrpotatoheadd
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posted on December 10, 2000 10:59:48 AM
getkicks-
I didn't say you weren't entitled to your position. I disagree that it is a deceptive practice, unless the seller actually fails to come through and cover a loss.
I insure every package I send, but I do not buy insurance from the USPS. The company I use explicitly states that the package not be marked as insured in any way. By your thinking, this would be considered deceptive, but none of the people who buy from me have had a problem with it.
Maybe you should contact the seller before bidding to clarify the insurance situation if this is an important issue for you.
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twinsoft
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posted on December 10, 2000 11:16:35 AM
We've had this discussion before, and self-insuring is not legal. I insure with U-pic (www.u-pic.com) and there is never a USPS sticker on the package. $17 to ship a video tape. Who would bid on it?
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sonsie
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posted on December 10, 2000 12:32:07 PM
I ship mostly smaller items (under 5 pounds). I always state the complete, final shipping price, with insurance, in my auctions. Buyers will have no surprises from me after the auction.
I also insure via U-PIC, and I say so in my auctions, and I explain that the package will have no insurance marking on it. Thus far, I have had no questions or concerns from buyers about this process.
I have two good scales, and I can easily weight both small and large items (with appropriate packing materials). I have access to the USPS website to give a final shipping cost (or UPS, if necessary). When I occasionally do have a larger package that will require being sent parcel post or some sort of ground service, I give my zip code and the package weight and my preferred shipper in the auction. Any bidder who has access to a computer can then figure his or her own shipping.
How hard is this? Is it so complex that sellers can't manage it? There's no need to quote every single possible price from here to eternity...just give your own zip, the approximate packed weight (and include insurance if you want it to be covered), and let the buyer determine shipping if the package is that big. Otherwise, YOU figure it out (one reason why priority mail is so handy) and put it in your auctions.
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libra63
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posted on December 10, 2000 12:39:50 PM
I always state my auction shipping sometimes it is a couple of cents more maybe less if it is more I eat the change and if it's less I don't refund unless it is a good amount and I am turned off from auctions that don't. Last night there were 3 auctions I wanted to bid on and none of them had shipping charges. I think the seller waits to see what the item goes for and then ups the price of shipping when they don't get what they want. Just my opinion.
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dman3
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posted on December 10, 2000 12:59:23 PM
sonsie
You missed the point here Buyers are in here saying it to much work to write the buyer for shipping rate for them and they dont even have to leave the auction listing to do this they would just have to click the send this auction to a friend link add the sellers email and ask away.
Calulateing there own shipping rate with your info in the listing would take more time they would have to get the the USPS or stamp.com or what ever site calulate rates and go back to your listing.
The easyest and surest way to list rates so that yoy dont lose money before you know who your buyer is and where they live would be to set fix rate according to the winning bid prices like other mail order companys do that would include shipping, insurance comfirmation and packageing.
This type of shipping rate calculation would be a Higher then actual shipping but would offer all the protection for buyer and seller requiresd today for accepting all forms of payments like credit cards you need Comfirmation to prove shipping on a charge back claim of never shipped you need Insurance to protect your investment incase of chargeback on lost Items and what every and you need to be paid to provide the costom packageing most shippers and buyers insist on to protect there Items from damage.
Whats happening is to many frauds and complaints is turning simple online person to person auctions into The same High cost headaches most were trying to avoid from the start by bidding at ebay instead of ordering from LL Bean or where ever.
I know there are quite a few High volume seller on Ebay and yahoo right now who have the return it take to not only have there own merchant account and offer credit card only payment but many are getting to the income level where they could offer there own credit like some of the other mail order houses when this happens it will be no different bidding ebay then going to LL bean, Peublo traders, Fingerhut or any other site just all located at the same ebay URL some selling old collectables some new items many offering there own payment services and term of service and interest rates.
A QVC or HNS mall on the web.
They are unwittingly heading right in the direction with Ebay they fought against late in the summer.
Ebay Has already tossed in the buy it now price makeing it all the easyer to sell at or near retail if buyer chooses before the auction begins.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
[ edited by dman3 on Dec 10, 2000 01:03 PM ]
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msstone
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posted on December 10, 2000 01:05:28 PM
In my TOS the S/h is plainly stated. I always insure.
We are trying something new to see if that will help business. We are now offering free s/h and insurance. We are trying to see if that will help business.
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Shoshanah
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posted on December 10, 2000 01:15:58 PM
msstone...That's very brave! I would hate to have to pay shipping to Japan and pay the 71.00 it cost the last time... But dropping the HANDLING might be nice...
********************
Gosh Shosh!
http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rifkah/
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msstone
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posted on December 10, 2000 01:23:37 PM
I am sorry I am not having a great day today.
I am giving free s/h to the U.S. and reduced S/H on international and Canadian shipping.
This Of course is plainly stated in my TOS and the fees for international and Canadian are also listed.
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figmente
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posted on December 10, 2000 01:38:50 PM
What's that about self-insuring not legal?
sounds odd to me.
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dman3
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posted on December 10, 2000 01:48:22 PM
WOW Free shipping is really brave I have weeks when my bill at the PO comes to $200 and more for shipping.
Dropping the handleing would be brave to I never charged handleing on any Items but my cost for packaging for the past few months has been as much as $200 and more per month as well my shipping rates are now up to new standards No choice you must insure and have comfirmation as protection and part of the shipping rate covers custom packageing my wife over the thankgiveing holiday showed me her receipts of out of pocket cost for packing materals labels and stuff in three months to costom pack what I ship for survival of shipping has cost me more in three month then a mortgage payment she also showed me I have lost $210 in under charged postage since august.
I now have a postage scale and am ready to print postage and sell for profit not pay for buyers to take it away.
Would have cost less to call a trash company and pay there rates to dump it sorry Higher shipping getting in step with these credit card companies and handleing charges are now a fact of life.
I sold over $700 in inventory on ebay since the end of july listing fee and fvf over $30 per month Under chrageing shipping $235 cost for bubble wrap labels tape packageing paper packing peanuts styrafoam sheets foam rubber tisue paper card board sheets boxes mailers envelopes foam slip covers rubber bands and every thing else I used $515 my profit on sales actually -$210 my wife was nice wiped the slate clean let me keep some funds in the checking I started for auctions so I could continue as long as I charged honest shipping and packaging rates to buyer and promised no more haggleing on shipping.
On top of the above things listed there was $150 for a scanner $210 for a digital camera $30 for postal scale $21 for a instant camera for them bad digtal day $100 for instant flim $90 in ISP charges $14 domain name registration fee and $500 in computer leaseing fees when my computer broke Down in the spring.
My Wife has told me I have a family of six to support here and She sees no way I can also support the buying habbit of ebay biddiers as well My auctions must start paying for them selfs and showing at least some profit Now or they have to end I have to agree so Fixed shipping and handleing is a must No more free rides for buyers if they want to bid they must pay me not the other way around.
http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
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sonsie
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posted on December 10, 2000 07:06:35 PM
DMan, the very first post in this thread complained about sellers not putting shipping charges in their listings. I think that's a major error in most cases, though I can certainly see why shipping for some items cannot be easily quoted. In that case, the buyer and seller need to cut each other some slack.
But for normal, everyday items, all the seller needs is a postal scale and access to the USPS (or UPS) website.
BTW, I read your other post about all your problems with postage expenses exceeding your charges, and all the equipment you've bought. I sure hope you are deducting all that equipment in the year of purchase (using Sec. 179) if at all possible, rather than depreciating it. Also hope you're claiming an in-home office space (I presume you're selling from hone). You might not be getting anywhere near your fair share of deductions (and consequently lower taxes). A session or two with a good tax advisor could make a big difference.
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keziak
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posted on December 11, 2000 02:44:16 AM
On the theme of sellers discouraging bidding, I won an auction this past week and found the seller's approach annoying, though I knew what I was getting into.
The item is for a christmas present, this being the holiday season [hello, seller!]. TOS were check or money order. I emailed after the sale and verified that the seller uses NO method to take credit cards. I had to ask twice how long he would delay shipping on a check and the most he said was "only until it clears my bank". Well, DUH, how long is that, after christmas maybe?
So of course I had to go out and get the money order and hope he does promptly put said item into the mail to me once he gets it.
I was the only bidder. It was a somewhat trendy item that had good sales [from other sellers, I bet!] based on the Closed auctions. I think I probably got a good price, but I did wonder at his sales tactics!
keziak
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